Stories and Quality – Details Sell Handmade Online

Janet Bocciardi, crafter from the website Honey from the Bee, shared her thoughts on why she thinks a good story and attention to quality help potential buyers have a memorable experience.

“What makes your pair of chalcedony earrings different than the ones in a department store? Why do customers want to buy jewelry from an independent artist vs. a large chain store?  There are probably quite a few different responses to those questions, but I think figuring this out is paramount in helping one sell their artisan jewelry or other items,” Janet said.

“I think we all know we’d rather put on a pair of earrings where we knew who made them than perhaps a factory or worse child labor in a third world country,” Janet explains.  “However, sometimes the price just seems easier to focus on.”

Janet suggests handmade sellers draw potential buyers in with their personal story.  “If at an art fair, buyers may get hooked on your personality or image, but online one has to focus on the story,” she said.

Can’t think of a good story to share with potential buyers?  Janet suggests writing about why you are an artist.  “Or more focused to what inspired the piece you are selling,” she continues.  “It may be the additional colors you chose to highlight the stone remind you of that Caribbean trip you took last winter. Whatever it is – write about it.”

Janet provides a great example for sellers:  “Your chalcedony earrings are drops from the sea, dripping from a mermaid’s ears as she peeks out of the water and looks longingly to shore,” she writes.

In addition to sharing a personal story with potential buyers, Janet says quality work is a key to selling more handmade crafts.  “Make sure your work is of high quality,” she tells HandmadeMarketing.org.  “One of the things that’s finally hitting many retail shops is folks are just tired of buying stuff that breaks before a reasonable amount of use.  In this day and age of making your money count, and wanting to use our resources wisely, who wants to keep replacing?“

To accomplish this, Janet things taking good and bright photographs of items is a great first steps to ensure buyers can really see what they are buying.  “Value your work.  Items perceived to be priced too low are also seen as ones of questionable quality,” she says.

Thank you for the tips Janet!  You can connect with Janet via Twitter or her blog on her site Honey from the Bee.

Have you tried something new to market your handmade items?  How did it work for your shop?  Do you have any advice for a new seller?

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